LAWN bowls was once the domain of the elderly sportsperson that was taken up after the playing careers of many participants was concluded in other sports, not any more as two Dunkeld bowlers have earned the right to compete on the national stage.

Darren Gordon and Simon Cullinane once patrolled the playing fields of the district in both football and cricket with great success, but the pair continue to dominate the sporting landscape through their love of their new sport.

Each will compete on the national stage at different events in the coming months after succeeding in their local events to gain entry to these tournaments.

Cullinane will compete alongside his playing partner, Mick Swan (Heywood) in the Australian Armed Championships (pairs) in Devonport, Tasmania from 3-9 September this year, while Gordon has won through to the last 32 participants from across the nation in the Australian Indoor Championships which will be staged at Tween Heads from 13-17 August.

While Cullinane is representing Victoria, Gordon is playing for himself as his event is an individual tournament rather than state based.

“I have made the last 32 for the Australian Indoors Championship, which is normal bowls just under a roof,” Gordon said.

“ The qualifying rounds were played at various venues all over Australia, I played the qualifying tournament down in Warrnambool over two days and got lucky,” he said modestly.
“I have been playing bowls for 12 years at the Dunkeld bowling club and we play down in the western division for the pennant.

 “The teams are based around Warrnambool with us being the furthest team north, we moved down to the Warrnambool competition three years ago which has really helped the club attracting players for pennant as well as our tournaments.

“I have been lucky enough to win four club championships, but also have lost another four – we have a very strong core of very good bowlers at the club and the competition is very fierce between each other.

To be one of the last 32 players from across Australia is a huge accomplishment, and Gordon was humble when asked how he felt about it.

“Lucky in the first instance – but I am really looking forward to the challenge,” he said.

“I haven’t picked up a bowl for a month, but I am just about to start having 2-3 sessions a week in  preparation for the championships.

Cullinane will partner Swan in the pairs event in Devonport as Victoria sends a state team of 15 players to the Armed Championships who will compete in singles, pairs and fours competitions.

The bowlers use a mechanical “arm” to aid them during play, which is used so that people who cannot use their bodies fully can still enjoy and play the sport.

In Cullinane’s case, he has a back complaint that stops him from bowling normally, but the device still requires the same amount of skill from the bowler to be successful.

“I use a bowling arm and Mick does as well; mine is because my back’s stuffed as I can’t bend,” Cullinane said.

“Rolled to many bales of wool around in the day when I had my own wool buying business.

The pair came together and formed a formidable partnership that saw them carry off the state title back in May of this year to earn their selection for Victoria.

“I have been bowling for 15 years,” Cullinane said.

“All the time at Dunkeld, but I’m also a member at Port Fairy now and I play pennant for them, but I’ll always remain a member at Dunkeld.”

Cullinane is just as successful in the singles events as his three club championships at Dunkeld attest.

“I’ve been fortunate to win three singles championships at Dunkeld, one without the stick and two with it,” he said.

“By far the greatest win ever was the premiership with Dunkeld pennant team to get into the Western Division 1 competition.

Both players have goals that they are seeking in the future.

“The short-term goal is to train well and perform in Tasmania, but it will involve fair few weekends keeping my eye in,” Cullinane said.

“Just to keep getting better at a personal level and keep entering tournaments and association events testing myself against the best bowlers,” Gordon said.

“On a club level, it would be great to win a Division 1 pennant which has been dominated by the two big clubs in Warrnambool for the past 15-20 years.

“That’s one of the things that really drives us at Dunkeld; to topple the big boys.

The pair have history together on the rinks as well, with the two life long friends teaming up for the Victorian Open at Traralgon earlier this year and  semifinal placing was achieved.

“It was incredible to get so far – but the best part was achieving it with my life-long mate,” Cullinane said.

“I didn’t play that well in the semi-final, it was early in the day and the bar wasn’t open- that’s another thing I like about bowls is it’s a very social sport,” Gordon said with a grin.

Both players paid the highest compliments to the Dunkeld Bowls club and its members for their guidance and help with their bowls.

“The club has been instrumental in where my level of bowls is at now,” Cullinane said.

“A fairly big group of us migrated from the cricket ground to the bowls green at the one time and we were taught by the best, both in etiquette and how to play, with John Overall, Ivan Field, Brian Matthews and Frank Raymond to name the very best of teachers.”

“My teammates from Dunkeld; Stephen Field, Angus Jackson and the people we have recruited over time- Ken Prewitt was great for the club- he is just a fierce competitor, while David Clement from Warrnambool has shown us how the big teams go about it- Troy Greed has been sensational if you ever want to see a pure bowls delivery have a look at Greedy he is one of the true gentlemen on the bowling green as well,” Gordon said.